Hundreds of thousands of workers are anticipated to participate in strike actions across France on Thursday, following a call from trade unions for protests against proposed budget cuts. The French interior ministry has estimated that between 600,000 and 900,000 individuals may attend demonstrations nationwide, leading to the deployment of 80,000 police officers for public order.
Reports indicate clashes occurred in the cities of Lyon and Nantes, where police used tear gas to disperse protesters. The strikes come shortly after Sébastien Lecornu was named Prime Minister, succeeding François Bayrou, who was recently removed from office.
On Thursday morning, public transport faced significant disruptions, with various metro lines in Paris shut down and protesters blocking roads in major urban centers. Students also gathered outside schools and universities, obstructing entrances, and approximately one-third of teachers participated in the strike. Additionally, it is reported that 98% of pharmacies are closed due to the strike.
Unions are advocating for increased public spending, higher taxes on the wealthy, and the cancellation of budget cuts proposed by the Bayrou government.
Sophie Binet, leader of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), emphasized the need for solidarity among protesters to influence government policies that they believe favor only the wealthy. Reports confirm that by mid-morning, 58 individuals had been arrested across France, and outgoing interior minister Bruno Retailleau stated he had directed police to act decisively against any disturbances. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the France Unbowed party, urged protesters to maintain discipline, cautioning against any violent actions.
Concerns were also raised by Laurent Nunez, the Paris prosecutor, about potential disruptions by far-left groups. The protests occur following a previous demonstration that attracted around 200,000 participants, driven by rising public discontent with budget proposals aimed at reducing France’s substantial public debt. Prime Minister Lecornu’s challenge will be to navigate a politically fragmented parliament while addressing growing concerns over national debt, which stands at nearly €50,000 per citizen.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9zvg03elzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss